MORWELL Morwell is the next in the sextuplet towns in the Latrobe Valley. Morwell is also a relatively new town, and it seems development at any cost has won over any thought about heritage care. For example Morwell does not have a Museum; thankfully there is a Historical Society, so there is hope. Heritage, old buildings and history information at present is not on the radar. The name Morwell is believed to have been derived from the Aboriginal term More willie, meaning 'woolly possum. Their first contact with Europeans would have been with pastoralists who came south from the Monaro region of New South Wales in the 1840s in search of pasture for their stock. In 1841, McMillan and Strzelecki made journeys of exploration through the region which would later be named Gippsland and during the 1840s the squatting runs of Maryvale, Merton Rush and Hazelwood were taken up in the area which is now Morwell. Even in the 1880s, coal was seen to be of importance to Morwell. In 1888 two coal mining companies were established—The Great Morwell Coal Mining Company and the Maryvale Proprietary Coal Mining Company. The development of the Yallourn open cut coal mine and power station in the 1920s contributed to Morwell's development, providing employment and trade. One of Morwell’s most renowned citizens was responsible for the birth of the Legacy program. The Morwell War Memorial is near the RSL, and is vintage WW1. Then there is the ANZAC Memorial at Hazelton. There is no remaining ‘old’ pubs after The Club Hotel closed. The Merle Rush Hotel is a great example of the late 40’s hotels. All of the old churches are gone and have been replaced with this bunch of building ideas. The Coal Mines and Power Stations determine a visit is important. The scale of the Power Stations is just amazing. (A lot of wind farms that’s for sure)